Hey there, everyone! Here's my third DMxHS fic! I started it at 9:15 the day 'fore yesterday and I had it finished at a few minutes before midnight. *sweatdrop* A big thanx to Makoto Yuy for beta-reading it for me, thanx Makoto! At one point in the story, Hilde sorta has a conversation with her logical brain/mind and I just wanna say that the BOLD italics is her LOGICAL mind talking, the regular italics is her and her heart, combined. Just so ya don't get confused! OK, now you can go read! ~Angel
Disclaimer: I don't own GW, or the song "Every Time". GW belongs so Sunrise, Bandai, and probably some more companies and "Every Time" belongs to Jessica Andrews. Case closed, end of story.
Every Time
By Angel of Death
20-year-old Hilde Schbeiker walked down the rocky steps to the shore below and looked out at the incoming tide. It was a perfect night for a peaceful lie on the beach. She was in her dark-blue swim-suit with dark denim shorts on and plastic sandals on her feet. Her short, midnight hair blew gently in the wind while the sound of the waves against the shore calmed the ex-soldier's heart, which was in complete turmoil. It had been almost a year since Hilde had seen him, but maybe it wasn't so surprising. After the big fight they'd had, over the fact that he was going to have to fight again, how could she expect him to come back? Then again, they hadn't been together, really. Hadn't even kissed. So, why did she feel as though he'd broken her heart? Hilde shook her head, her bangs covering the tears that had somehow found their way past the barrier she'd tried valiantly to erect. The words they'd said that night had forever imprinted themselves in her weary mind . . .
"Hilde, I have to go, it's my job!"
"Why can't you give up your stupid job?!"
"It's not stupid, Hilde! I thought you, someone who once was a soldier, would understand how I feel! I guess I was wrong . . ."
The words echoed in her head as if they'd been spoken yesterday. Wiping away the tears, she walked the rest of the way down to the beach, trying to rid her mind of the feeling she'd had when he'd said those harsh words. She laid the blanket she'd had tucked under her arm down on the sand that was still warm from the day's sun and laid down, prepared to enjoy the comforting night. Then, something caught her eye. She looked to her right and her eyes widened. It was none other than the braided-pilot himself, looking better than ever.
*****
"I laid the blanket there on the shoreline
And saw the water shine with the moon
What kinda fool would fail to notice
The best thing shining was you . . ."
*****
Duo was tossing a beach ball back and forth, chestnut-brown braid swinging, with what Hilde recognized as his best friend, Heero. She listened closely and heard the end of their conversation.
"Come on, tell me how you and 'Lena are doin'. Please?" Duo said, giving his stoic friend his puppy-dog look. Heero rolled his eyes.
"I told you, we're just fine." he growled, exasperated. But Duo continued to pester him.
"Come on, tell me more!" he pleaded but Heero refused. Duo sighed a mushroom-cloud.
"Aw, you're no fun. See ya tomorrow." he said as his friend walked up the steps to the street above. Hilde watched and heard all this, taking it in happily. She was glad to hear that the Perfect Soldier and Relena had finally gotten together. But then she turned her attention back to the figure that was now approaching. She saw him stop dead in his tracks, staring at her in disbelief.
"Hilde!?" Duo said in an amazed tone. Hilde nodded, lowering her head. I can't let him see me cry! she thought as a few tears slipped out from the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, then looked up and smiled.
"Yes, it's me, Duo." she said, choking on the words. Duo could tell that she was trying not to cry, so he opted to act like he'd forgotten about the fight they'd had before his last mission. He plastered a silly grin on his face and flopped down beside her on the sand, giving her a friendly hug.
"How ya been? I haven't seen you for a while." he said cheerfully. Hilde looked at him for a moment before smiling as well, laughing a little nervously.
"I've been doing pretty good, actually. I kept up the Salvaging Yard and it made quite a bit of money, surprisingly. What 'bout you?" she asked, expecting him to bring up the fight, but he didn't. He just replied and asked her a few more questions. A few minutes later, they were chatting like they had before the fight. Hilde was gradually feeling more and more relaxed, now that she was back in Duo's company. And they were gradually getting closer, not just emotionally or mentally, but physically, as well.
*****
"Oh, I laughed kinda nervous
I felt you move closer
And felt the world unwind
You once were a stranger
Then not-quite a lover
Now steadily crossing the line . . ."
*****
Hilde was now leaning against Duo's shoulder, happier than she'd been for almost a year. She wondered if Duo had completely forgotten about the fight. If he had, should she bring it up? If he hadn't, would he bring it up? Her thoughts were interrupted when Duo answered her unasked questions.
"Hilde?" he said. Hilde felt suddenly tense. His tone, when he'd said her name, had been serious. He was hardly ever serious. She took a deep breath and replied, wondering what he was about to say.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember the fight we had, just before I left for that mission a year ago?" he said, looking down at her. Her heart sunk. She had been hoping that they could talk about that later, if they even needed to talk about it at all. Hilde bit her lip.
"Yes, I do." she answered, wondering what he was getting at.
"Do you understand why I had to go?" he asked and she looked up and met his eyes, but only for a brief instant before averting her gaze from his serious expression.
"Yes." she said quietly. "And I'm sorry for making such a fuss about it. I was just worried, at the time, and I didn't want you to get hurt." she continued, choking again on her words. This time, she couldn't keep the tears from coming, and she cursed under her breath as she moved away from Duo and tried to keep her face from his view. She didn't see him smile as he watched her.
"It's okay, Hilde, you can cry. I'm glad you care enough to do so." he said. Hilde turned to face him, the tears still glistening on her face.
"You mean that?" she said, sounding like an insecure child, which was what she felt like. Duo nodded. Hilde was silent for a moment, thinking, I never thought of it that way. She smiled, sitting back down next to Duo, feeling like a great weight had been lifted off of her heart.
*****
"Carry me far away
Don't hold back, I won't break
Leave the past behind
All I know, wrong or right,
Just the thought of the night
Will get me every time . . .
Every time . . ."
*****
They talked for awhile longer, catching up on what had happened to each other over the past year. Hilde asked if Duo wanted to come back to the Salvage Yard and he took her up on her offer, saying that he'd love to.
"I wanted to come back but I didn't think you'd want me to, after-"
"It's okay, Duo." Hilde said, cutting him off. "I wanted you to come back but I didn't think you'd want to come back after . . . it . . . either." she finished, not elaborating when she came to referring to the fight. Duo grinned, glad that he was going to live the way he had before. Then, his face lit up and he told Hilde that he'd be right back, then dashed down the beach. Hilde, puzzled, wondered what he was up to. He came running back with a battery-powered boom-box in his hand.
"I brought this, then forgot about it when I saw you." he said, flipping a switch. A soft, slow song came on and he stood up, bowing in mock courtier.
"May I have this dance, milady?" he asked regally. Hilde chuckled, stood up, and bowed in return.
"Why, of course, sir!" she said in the same tone as he and they stepped away from the blanket and boom-box, both dancing well. But the innocently humorous dance turned into a real slow dance. Soon, both hearts were racing and they never stopped, even when the song changed to another slow song.
*****
"Well, the voice in my head said 'What are you doin'!?'
And I thought 'Not listenin' to you'
You see, I'm takin' a chance, thinkin' 'bout flyin'
Over the blue . . ."
*****
The two dancers were close, with Hilde's arms draped over Duo's shoulders and Duo's hands on Hilde's petite waist. They didn't say anything, just enjoyed being in each other's company again, after so long. Hilde smiled, glad that she could still dance after having not done so in so long, letting her mind go blank until a little voice spoke in her head.
"What in the world are you doing!? Have you forgotten all about the fight you had with him!?" it said, and she assumed that this was the logical part of her brain talking.
"No, I haven't. But that's behind us now, why can't we be friends again?"
"You mean, 'why can't we get further in the almost-was relationship than we did last time?', don't you?"
"I, uh, don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, yes you do! You're thinking with your heart, and that's bad! You and your heart have totally fallen for him again, and you wanna get closer!"
"And that's bad because . . ."
"Because tell me this: What would you do if he had to go on another mission? What would you do?"
". . ."
"Ha! See? You know that it would break your heart if he had to leave again, so you'd try to convince him not to go, and that would lead to another fight. And you'd be heart-broken once again."
"But he might not get any more missions!"
"Geez, you are dense! Peace is as fragile as very thin glass, you know that! And whenever that glass might be broken, the Earth Sphere calls on the Gundam pilots. All of them, that means Duo, too! Do you seriously believe that he would refuse to fight just 'cause you asked him to?"
". . . no, I guess not."
"So, do you see why you can't let him in again?"
"Yes, but-"
"No 'buts'! Get away from him right now!"
"No, I just can't! I know that he's one of the best, he can take care of himself in battle. I know that. If he has to fight again, I won't try to stop him, I'll just pray that he gets back safely!"
"But- "
Hilde's thoughts were interrupted when Duo stopped dancing and lifted her chin, his gaze meeting her own, surprised one. He sighed.
"Hilde . . ."
*****
"And it's crazy to be this outta practice
And have it all come so naturally
Don't you love knocking logic right off it's axis
And watch it float far out to sea . . ."
*****
Duo looked at her dark eyes, which reflected the moon, for a moment before leaning forward and kissing her. Hilde froze, caught off guard, yet savoring the moment. It was a second before she came to her senses, then she kissed back. She could hear her mind faintly, screaming for her to pull away, but she pushed it back until she couldn't hear it anymore and brought her arms up around Duo's neck. Yes! Yes! Yes! she thought happily when they pulled away and Duo smiled.
"Duo, I-" she faltered, not knowing what to say. Duo put a finger to her lips, his smile growing wider.
"It's okay, I understand. I love you, too." he said. Hilde smiled, joyous tears falling out of her eyes.
"Yes, I love you." she whispered, kissing him again . . .
*****
"Carry me far away
Don't hold back, I won't break
Leave the past behind
All I know, wrong or right,
Just the thought of the night
Will get me every time . . .
Every time . . ."
*****
The next day, Duo moved back into what had been his and Hilde's house, right next to the Salvage Yard. He cringed at how organized Hilde had the place, now, and promptly began messing things up, insisting that he was putting it back in "his system". Hilde watched, chuckling, as he dashed here and there, knocking things over, getting dirty, and generally wrecking the place. She wouldn't have had it any other way.
ONE MONTH LATER* * *
Hilde stood in the kitchen making ham & cheese omelettes for her and Duo when Duo came into the room, his face pale. Immediately, Hilde knew what was going on, but she asked anyway, hoping she was wrong.
"What's up, Duo? Any paler, and you could pass for a ghost!" she said, a hint of apprehension in her voice, which Duo picked up. He looked away from her, knowing what her reaction would be to what he was about to tell her.
"I just got a call from Heero. It seems that there's a group of a new enemy about to attack one of the colonies. The other pilots and I need . . . need to go fight them." he said, avoiding her gaze. Hilde closed her eyes.
*****
"Now here I am, reading my fortune
In the winding lines of your hand
Oh, and I see a lost, unwanted orphan
Head right for the Promised Land
Carry me far away
I won't, I won't break . . ."
*****
Hilde nodded, walked over to Duo, and hugged him tightly.
"I know you have to go fight, for the sake of peace, just promise that you'll take care of yourself." she said, trying not to cry. She didn't want him to go, but he had to, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. Duo was surprised at how well she had taken it, he had expected them to have another fight. He smiled when he felt her trembling and hugged her back.
"I promise I'll be careful." he said and pulled away, kissing her before walking out to the storehouse where he kept his Gundam, Deathscythe.
"Come back, Duo . . ." Hilde whispered before going back to her cooking.
*****
"Carry me far away
Don't hold back, I won't break
Leave the past behind
All I know, wrong or right,
Just the thought of the night
Will get me every time . . .
*****
Hilde looked out the window of the house where she and Duo lived. It had been a week since Duo had left to go fight, and she was very worried. Suddenly, she stood up, dropping the coffee cup she had been holding. Headlights were coming up the driveway, a door opened, a figure with what looked like a long braid stepped out . . . Hilde dashed out the door to the car where she could see Duo clearly now, as he ran towards her. They met and she jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"I'm glad you're back." she said quietly.
"That's an understatement." Duo said in a strangled voice. "Um, Hilde, do ya think you could let me breathe, please . . ." Hilde grinned and loosened her grip on his neck. He reached a hand up and rubbed it tenderly."So, what's for dinner?" he asked. "I'm hungry." Hilde swatted his head, rolling her eyes.
"You're always hungry, Duo." she said. "Come on, let's go in."
*****
"Every time . . ."
*****
THE END